Activities of Balikesir People House for Turkish modernization(1933-1951)

With the thesis named as "Activities of Balıkesir People House For Turkish Modernization 1933-1951", modernization which is one of the most discussed subjects in Turkish political history, the Turkish modernization concepts and characteristics were explained and it has been explained that Republican People' s Party was the operator of "modernization project" up to 1950s in the Republican Period and took significant decisions in III. Congress after the experiment of Free Republic Party, and the changing policies, ideological conjuncture and cultural policies accepted, had an effect on opening People Houses by closing Foyers Turcs which had a key position in adoption of revolution and in passage to national government from Empire. The activities of Balıkesir People?s House towards Turkish modernization within the period from its foundation to its closing, its effects on the public and on the socio-cultural life of Balıkesir has been set out. Balıkesir People House was founded as a result of the efforts of establishing a national state after the declaration of Republic by RPP in 24th February 1933 with the aim of making the integration of "state-public" and convergance of "intellectual-public" in the social and cultural fields, making public to accept "official state ideology" and "revolutions" and making the revolutions to be spreaded. People houses opened in towns and public rooms opened in villages followed this People House opened in the centre of Balıkesir; nine branches of Balıkesir People House drew attention with their leading activities among other People Houses in a short time and it became one of the people houses examplified to the others. Balıkesir People House became one of the important centres in cultural activities in Balıkesir in the years of 1933-1951. Each of its branches were engaged in cultural activities for making up "a new community", conducted linguistic and historical studies which were regarded important in "modernization project" and contributed to the activities of "Türk Dil Kurumu (Turkish Language Society)" and "Türk Tarih Kurumu (Turkish History Society)". Important conferences were held to make revolutions to be accepted, studies were conducted in order to make people to have surnames and the Turkish names were given to the streets, the avenues and the villages. Shows which were regarded as the most important means of "inspiration and guidance" were performed, the women and the people who had an obvious social status, were made to have role in these shows and activities for comprising " a national music" with the combination of domestic components and westerner technics with the musical activities regarded as "identity matter" in addition to the aim of the improvement of art, folk-songs were compiled and jazz and band were made up. Besides, it attended to The Balkans Festival with Balıkesir "bengi" dance which has an important position in folk culture and it had some activities for "being national" of folk-dance. A rich library, mobile library and libraries to the hospitals and prisons were made up. "Kaynak Dergisi" which rose the public' s general knowledge about various subjects and the acceptance of revolutions, was published and approximately 30 books and booklets were published too. The loudspeaker and the cinema which went to even the villages, were utilized in order to make revolutions to be accepted. In addition to the activities for making the villages modern, contributions were made to the national culture with the compilation of folklore materials in villages by collecting local sources and village nights were held in order to enlighten the villagers and village festivals were also held in order to combine the city-dweller-villager. In addition to the courses opened in order to teach the public writing and reading, foreign language and various occupation courses were opened. The sports such as tennis, football and volleyball were tried to develop in addition to national sports such as javelin, sport clubs were leaded to be opened in villages and urban, and a tennis court was opened. In field of social relief Red Crescent, Association for the Protection of Children, ?Yoksulları Gözetme Birlii?, ?Veremle Mücadele Cemiyeti? were supported, various aids were made to public, needing patients were examined and treated, dispensary for patients, dormitories for students were opened and their various needs were met. Researches about Balıkesir?s National struggle and former history were made, in the ceremonies held in set dates it laid the foundation of celebration of national festivals and establishing a museum in Balıkesir. So, Balıkesir People House was one of the People Houses which was given as an example to the other People Houses and drew attention to cultural life with the contributions for Turkish modernization with all the activities and with its accredited activities appropriate to cultural policies until 1950s. In addition to Balıkesir People House?s being one of the leaders among other People Houses, some people who have been in positions in Turkish poitical history such as ministry, deputyship, mayor, party founder have officiated in Balıkesir People House. Besides all these, important people in field of literature were encountered in its publications and activities.